For better or worse, Adam Driver is always going to be associated with Star Wars and his role as Kylo Ren. The character went through a lot of changes across three movies, as JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson had different ideas for his direction, but even so, Driver played the part as well as can be expected. With Daisy Ridley returning for a new movie centered on Rey, rumors have been flying that Driver might also reprise his role as Kylo Ren. But would Driver be up for it?
Appearing on the Smartless podcast (via SFFGazette), Driver confirmed that something is happening at Lucasfilm, but it ain’t with him…
“They’re doing stuff, but not with me. I’m not doing any more.”
Driver confirmed to the hosts that it’s because Kylo Ren’s story is finished. Of course, you and I both know that no character as crucial as Kylo Ren will ever be truly done, especially given his arc. Beginning in The Force Awakens as the attack dog of Supreme Leader Snoke, Ren aka Ben Solo fully turned to the Dark Side, killed his father Han Solo, and rejected his mother Princess Leia Organa. He became more like his grandfather, Anakin Solo, who also fell to the Dark Side and became Darth Vader.
After that, Kylo Ren would rise to become the new Supreme Leader of the First Order, leaning into his evil side during Johnson’s The Last Jedi. However, when Abrams took over again with The Rise of Skywalker, Ren was turned back to the side of good so he could make a heroic, redemptive sacrifice. His story arc mirrored that of Vader/Anakin, but also felt like the result of conflicting visions rather than natural storytelling.
Driver has fully moved on from Star Wars at this point, and hasn’t expressed any interest in returning. He can be seen right now in Michael Mann’s Ferrari in the lead role of Enzo Ferrari.
